Wat Chong Kham / Wat Chong Klang

Photo Gallery of the beautiful temples at the edge of a lake, Wat Chong Kham / Wat Chong Klang in Mae Hong Son of Northern Thailand.

Mae Hong Son is about 300 km to the northwest from Chiang Mai, and it's close to the border between Thailand and Myanmar. It will take
about 40 minutes from Chiang Mai by air (if my memory is correct. :D ).

The beautiful temples at the edge of a lake, Wat Chong Kham and Wat Chong Klang. This is one of the must places to visit in Mae Hong Son.

Wat Chong Kham was built in 1827 by Phraya Singhanat Racha and Chao Mae Nang Mia, the ruler of Mae Hong Son, and his wife. It was the first temple built in the province. It was promoted to a royal temple in 1984.

Wat Chong Klang was at first a pavilion for people to rest. Devout Buddhists then contributed
money for the construction of the present building to replace the old one
during 1867-1871.

Both of the temples are situated in the same area and I guess you will be confused which is which. Anyway, let's go and check them out with me.

Appearance and around

The beautiful temples at the edge of a lake, Wat Chong Kham and Wat Chong Klang in Mae Hong Son of Northern Thailand. The outlook of them is very beautiful
and you'll never get tired of looking at them with the reflection of their
appearances on the surface of the lake in front. This is one of the must
places to visit in Mae Hong Son.

A lot of shops will be opened along streets in the evening until night
and it will be crowded with visitors. The temple will be lit up at night
and its night scene is a must-to-see. If you stay overnight in Mae Hong Son city, let's check it at night. It
will be amazing !

The temple leftmost with silver-layered pointed roof is Wat Chong Kham. The buildings around the center up to the right side is Wat Chong Klang.

The temple leftmost with silver-layered pointed roof is Wat Chong Kham. The buildings around the center up to the right side is Wat Chong Klang. Amazing appearance.

Wat Chong Klang at night. The chedis are brightly lit up and it's a stunning
view.

Wat Chong Klang at night. The chedis are brightly lit up and it's a stunning view.
(It looks like Wat Chong Kham in the back in the picture is not lit up.)

Chong Kham lake. The temples can be seen over there.

Shops starts to be opened along a street in the evening.

Chong Kham lake. The temples can be seen over there.

Shops starts to be opened along a street in the evening.

A lot of shops are opened along a street.

A lot of shops are opened along a street.

A lot of shops. You'll enjoy walking around while looking at shops.

A lot of shops. You'll enjoy walking around while looking at shops.

A scenery with shops.

A scenery with shops.

Sceneries with shops.

A night scene of Wat Chong Klang. Amazing !

Blossoms around Chong Kham lake in front of the temples. They are very
red. How wonderful !

A night scene of Wat Chong Klang. Amazing !

Blossoms around Chong Kham lake in front of the temples. They are very red. How wonderful !

Wat Chong Kham

Wat Chong Kham is a temple next to Wat Chong Klang. The explanation in the temple says
as follows:

Wat Chong Kham was built in 1827, the first temple built in the province. It was promoted to a royal temple in 1984.

History of Wat Chong KhamWat Chong Kham was built in 1827 by Phraya Singhanat Racha and Chao Mae
Nang Mia, the ruler of Mae Hong Son, and his wife. It was the first temple
built in the province. It was promoted to a royal temple in 1984.
The temple is called Wat Chong Kham because the temple's pillars are decorated
with gold leaf which was originally as a silver plate.

A royal temple, Wat Chong Kham, a wooden building built in the Burmese
Shan style with a castle-like tiered roof.
Next to the right is Wat Chong Klang.

A royal temple, Wat Chong Kham, a wooden building built in the Burmese
Shan style with a castle-like tiered roof.
Next to the right is Wat Chong Klang.

The front of the building. Silver-colored decoration on on a red background.

Wat Chong Klang

This is Wat Chong Klang next to Wat Chong Kham.
I guess this temple, Wat Chong Klang, is more famous than Wat Chong Kham
for tourists because of the bright outlook.
The temple has two beautiful chedis, a golden chedi and silver-colored
one in the Burmese Shan style like Wat Chong Kham. The temple shows wonderful
appearances; the reflection of on the surface of the lake in front, the
appearance at dusk and the chedis lit up at night.

The chedis of Wat Chong Klang at dusk. A peaceful and beautiful scenery.

The explanation in the temple says as follows:

History of Wat Chong KlangThe temple was at first a pavilion for people to rest when they came to
Wat Chong Mai (now in the area of Phra Pariyattitham school). Devout Buddhists
then contributed money for the construction of the present building to
replace the old one. The building was built as an offering to Burmese monks
who came to stay during the funeral of Wat Chong Mai's abbot. The construction
lasted 4 years during 1867-1871.

The chedis are brightly lit up at night. You'll be moved with the even
more beautiful appearance in the dark.

A scenery of the right side after the entrance of the temple area. This
is Wat Chong Klang. To the left is Wat Chong Kham. The Chong Kham lake
is to the right, out of this picture.

A scenery of the right side after the entrance of the temple area. This is Wat Chong Klang. To the left is Wat Chong Kham. The Chong Kham lake is to the right, out of this picture.

This is a very old picture, taken in 2004 when I visited Mae Hong Son for the first time. This building stands behind the chedis. Is this a main hall ?

This is a very old picture, taken in 2004 when I visited Mae Hong Son for
the first time. This building stands behind the chedis. Is this a main
hall ?

The chedi glowing gold. It stands out very much when you see from the lake direction.

It looks the same style as Wat Chong Kham. I guess this is also in the
Burmese Shan style.

The chedi glowing gold. It stands out very much when you see from the lake
direction.

It looks the same style as Wat Chong Kham. I guess this is also in the Burmese Shan style.

A close-up of the golden chedi.

The garden along the lake.

A close-up of the golden chedi.

The garden along the lake.

A big bell. You'll see this kind of bell often when you visit temples in
Thailand.

Decoration of the golden chedi.

A building close to the chedis. It has some towers on it like a temple
in Chiang Mai, Wat Jed Yod.

A Buddha statue is enshrined. The hand gesture is Goma-in (Bhumisparsha or Earth as Witness mudra).

A big bell. You'll see this kind of bell often when you visit temples in Thailand.

Decoration of the golden chedi.

A building close to the chedis. It has some towers on it like a temple
in Chiang Mai, Wat Jed Yod.

A Buddha statue is enshrined. The hand gesture is Goma-in (Bhumisparsha
or Earth as Witness mudra).

The golden chedi brightly lit up in the dark. Amazing. This is a must-to-see when you stay overnight in Mae Hong Son.

The golden chedi brightly lit up in the dark. Amazing. This is a must-to-see
when you stay overnight in Mae Hong Son.

The golden chedi brightly lit up in the dark.

隣のビルマ様式の仏塔のライトアップ

The golden chedi brightly lit up in the dark.

The chedi in the Burmese Shan style lit up next to the golden chedi.

Another building which has towers on the roof likeWat Jed Yod in Chiang Mai is also lit up brightly.

A view of different angle.

Another building which has towers on the roof likeWat Jed Yod in Chiang Mai is also lit up brightly.

A view of different angle.

The path around the chedi. It's dark.

Close-up

Around the top of the chedi.

The path around the chedi. It's dark.

Close-up

Around the top of the chedi.

Various exhibited articles - They are explained as follows: Other objects of interest include thirty-three wooden human and animal
figures representing scenes from the Vessantara Jataka. They were carved
by Burmese artisans and taken from Burma in 1857 A.D.
There are also glass paintings depicting the Vessantara Jakata as well as the life of Prince Siddhartha and folk ways of life in the old days. According to a record, they were painted by Myanmar artisans from Mandalay.

Various exhibited articles - They are explained as follows: Other objects of interest include thirty-three wooden human and animal
figures representing scenes from the Vessantara Jataka. They were carved
by Burmese artisans and taken from Burma in 1857 A.D.
There are also glass paintings depicting the Vessantara Jataka as well
as the life of Prince Siddhartha and folk ways of life in the old days.
According to a record, they were painted by Myanmar artisans from Mandalay.

The thirty-three wooden human and animal figures representing scenes from
the Vessantara Jataka.

Buddhist paintings on the wall.

The thirty-three wooden human and animal figures representing scenes from the Vessantara Jataka.